Simon Gelb is floating the idea of building 1,400 units in Thompson, about 560 in Mamakating, and still more in the Town of Fallsburg, on contiguous land.

Gelb met last month with Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini, and submitted a master plan with the town on behalf of Brooklyn-and-Monroe-based Read Property Group. Gelb's business card says he's Read Group's director of land development.

That company has a stake in 11 shopping centers around the country, and several commercial and residential properties in New York and Chicago, including the Sears Tower in Chicago.

Gelb has since met with the town's engineer. In Thompson, he proposes building two units on 1-acre lots.

But he is already getting a frosty reception.

"It's never going to happen in my town," Cellini said Tuesday.

Cellini, normally a big supporter of development, said that this project looks too big. Gelb told him that Mamakating would be the lead agency in the environmental review.

"That is not going to happen," Cellini said.

Cellini said he's concerned about quality and density of housing, and the stress on roads. The development would require Town Board approval.

Cellini has already spoken against the project at a Town Board meeting.

"I think we should save them a lot of time and money and say, no thank you," he said.